simply telephone to our secretary in Perth and he carries out our instructions,. We are not strong enough to pay a man permanently to put in the whole of his time, and our secretary cannot be expected to run about getting samples of wheat. We simply order a truck of wheat from Dalgety's and they put what price on it they think fit. 1057. By The CHAIRMAN: As retail merchants you have to buy from Dalgety's?— Yes. 1058. By Hon. R. G. ARDAGH: That is sold at auction?— At public auction providing it exceeds Dalgety's price. The Minister said it was open competition, but I say it is not open competition, but only a sale at Dalgety's price or better. 1059. Do they sell on sample?— No. If one goes to the office they will show one a sample, but guarantee nothing. 1060. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: A reserve price is put on a truck?— Yes. 1061. By Mr. HARRISON: How long have you been taking wheat from Dalgety's?— I should say for about six months, ever since they have had the monopoly. 1062. Have you many of their invoices?— Yes. 1063. Have you had any rebate at all?— We had a rebate of £2.5s. on one truck of ten bags. The invoices can be produced at any time. They are in the A.M.P. Chambers, where the registered office is. 1064. When you got this rebate was the Scheme inspector sent out to sample the stuff?£ No. 1065. Did Dalgety's send anyone?£ No. 1066. They took your word for it?— They said they had no time or men for the purpose even if we paid the expenses. Mr. Keys, the manager of the Wheat Scheme, told me that when we next wanted a truck to go to him and he would send an inspector down to see it. That inspector was sent down, I understand, from Mr. Keys. The truck I refer to, which cost 4s. 1d., and some of which I sold as low as 5s. a bag, had been reported on by the inspector as being good value. 1067. You mentioned that during the sitting of this Commission wheat could be bought for poultry at much less value than was the case before it sat?— Yes. 1068. You also said that merchants who were able to buy now would make a good thing out of the present purchases?— If prices reverted back to what they were. 1069. You said you bought wheat at 4s. a bushel?— Yes. 1070. What was its value for poultry feed?—About 3s., but some of it under that. 1071. What is the average value you would place on it for poultry feed?— About 1s. a bushel less right through I consider would be something reasonable. 1072. Do the poultry farmers of your district prefer first class wheat for poultry?— Yes. They think the highest value is in the better class of wheat. One of the poultry farmers the other day got wheat from us. I put it in at 4s. 6d. to try and balance the previous lot. We had a truck of wheat from the country all pinched up, and the price was supposed to be 4s. I asked this poultry farmer what difference he considered lay in the value, one lot of wheat being pinched but thoroughly clean, and he reckoned that the other stuff was worth 1s. a bushel more. I differ from him there. 1073. You said you had sold a certain lot at an extra price in order to balance up the order. You did not mix the wheat?— No. That which we bought from Wigmore we bought in Perth ay 3s. 9d. or 3s. 11d. in our store. We lost considerably on the previous truck. That was being sold at 4s. 6d. We kept the price firm at 4s. 6d. in order to try and balance our losses in the previous truck. We should not have been placed in that position. We should simply take it on a percentage basis if we had a decent quality of wheat on which we could rely. 1074. the poultry farmers would not object to the lower quality of wheat provided they were met at a price they thought was equitable?—That is the position, although they prefer good wheat. We do not consider it a fair thing to use good wheat while there is other stuff available. 1075. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: Are you a poultry farmer?— Yes. 1076. Were the purchases you speak of made on your own behalf or for the Armadale Poultry Farmers' Association?— On behalf of the Poultry Farmers' Association in one sense and the co-operative society in the other. 1077. I refer to the wheat that you purchased?— That was for the co-operative society. 1078. What is your relationship with that society.